Motorcycle Maneuvers in Nevada

Nevada

More than 55,000 (half of them motorcyclists) are expected at the 19th annual Laughlin River Run from April 25 to 29, a Hog heaven weekend for Harley Davidson fans. Activities include precision drill team performances (on bikes, of course), Harley Davidson demo rides (valid motorcycle license required), antique and custom motorcycle auction, a miles-long parade of bikes, a performance by Styx and vendors hawking “lifestyle products.” For more information, contact Dal-Con Promotions, 22343 La Palma Ave., Suite 116, Yorba Linda, CA 92887; telephone (909) 340-0094, Internet https://www.laughlinriverrun.com.

New York

No floats. No marching bands. Still, Fifth Avenue’s Easter Parade is among the most famous: New Yorkers in their spring finery saunter about. Crowds gather from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. between 44th and 59th streets, centering on St. Patrick’s Cathedral. An Easter Egg-stravaganza-an egg hunt on April 14 with hundreds of candy-filled plastic eggs-takes takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Central Park between 72nd and 86th streets. For more information, contact New York City Parks and Recreation, Special Events, 16 W. 61st St., New York, NY 10023; tel. (212) 408-0100, https://www.nyc.gov/parks.

North Carolina

For many people, the highlight of the North Carolina Azalea Festival, April 5 to 8 in Wilmington, may not be the profuse azaleas but the elephants that are the stars of the three-hour parade. The elephants belong to a circus that is in town performing during the festival. Other activities include tours of private homes and gardens (emphasis on azaleas, of course), a street fair, fireworks and tours of the battleship USS North Carolina. For more information, contact the North Carolina Azalea Festival, P.O. Box 51, Wilmington, NC 28482; tel. (910) 794-4650, https://www.azalea.wilmington.org.

Tennessee

Mule Day in Columbia dates to the 1840s when first-Monday-in-April auctions began. It has evolved into the full-blown Mule Days festival, April 5 to 8 this year, with contests, crafts, square dance and gospel music. For more information, contact Mule Days, P.O. Box 66, Columbia, TN 38402; tel. (931) 381-9557, https://www.muledays.com.

Texas

Three lavish parades compete for attention at the 110th Fiesta San Antonio, April 20 to 29. At the evening Texas Cavaliers’ River Parade, spectators on the River Walk watch as decorated barges glide by. The downtown Battle of the Flowers Parade features marching bands and elaborate floral floats. The Fiesta Flambeau Parade, a huge, illuminated night procession, usually draws the largest crowds.

For more information, contact the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 2277, San Antonio, TX 78298; tel. (800) 447-3372, https://www.sanantoniocvb.com.

Virginia

During Historic Garden Week in Virginia, April 21 to 28, more than 250 sites will be open on three dozen tours. These homes represent many periods of American history, beginning in the early 1600s. Among those not usually open to the public are several plantations along the James River: Belle Air, Brandon and Flowerdew. Richmond tours include Tuckahoe Plantation (one of Jefferson’s boyhood homes) and homes in Windsor Farms. For more information, contact the Garden Club of Virginia, 12 E. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23219; tel. (804) 644-7776, https://www.vagarden week.org.

Mexico

During Semana Santa (Holy Week, April 13 to 20 this year), passion plays are staged in several Mexico City-area towns. The most elaborate is in Iztapalapa, where thousands in costumes take part. The highlight is the Good Friday procession. For more information, contact the Mexican Government Tourism Office, 2401 W. 6th St., 5th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90057; tel. (213) 351-2069, https://www.cultura.df.gob.mx.

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Events appears on the third week of the month.